Thundercat's new album, The Golden Age of Apocalypse, is a lush sonic mishmash.
Photo: Theo Jemison

As far as musicians go, Stephen Bruner isn’t your average cat. His father drummed with the Temptations, he was once in a boy band called No Curfew, he plays bass with Suicidal Tendencies and has been in the studio with Snoop Dogg.

He’s just, well, Thundercat.

Only a guy whose nickname invokes cartoon feline warriors could put out an album like his debut, The Golden Age of Apocalypse. The record, full of spaced-out ’70s harmonies, jazzy drums and funky bass, is one of those rare albums that could in theory be worse than the sum of its parts, yet comes together like some kind of musical Voltron.

Apocalypse is also exactly the kind of record you’d expect from Brainfeeder, the label of Thom Yorke’s DJ buddy Flying Lotus. Which is to say it’s the kind of sound that isn’t afraid to take inspiration from just about anywhere and run with it.

Check out Thundercat’s new album below via Hype Machine and download the slick cut “Daylight” from Pitchfork. The Golden Age of Apocalypse is out Tuesday on Brainfeeder.